Comet flight dynamics

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DGF042
Chipmunk
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Joined: 03 Jan 2009, 19:19

Comet flight dynamics

Post by DGF042 »

Sorry I have a problem with the Comet's flight dynamics.
First - maybe it makes sense to say I'm a reallife pilot however not for the big ones. I just mention it to claim the problem is not necessarily in front of my computer. It does however not mean I think I know everything. It just should say it's not my first attempt in flying.
Well the Comet makes me crazy somehow. I can't get her to hold a reasonable descendrate of let's say 1500ft/min (today at 270kts at 18,000ft).
The aileron trim is so sensible - if I nudge her up (or down) just the tiniest bit with the elevator trim she dashes up by 3000ft/min I can hardly compensate with the elevator. Very much later she straightens up and behaves more or less again. I work very much with the trim rather than stiring the stick around.
It's very hard to fly that bird at normal cruisespeeds. At low speeds during approach it works very much better.
Does anyone notice similar and/or has a cure for that? Or is the Comet that unstable with the pitch?
I find it allmost impossible to maintain a smooth flight regarding altitudes e.g. after takeoff when flying a complex SID manually in IMC.
I'd be grateful for any hint you can give.

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TSR2
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Re: Comet flight dynamics

Post by TSR2 »

Hi DFG,

What version of the Sim are you using, and also, are these the latest Comet files from DM's website, as if you have got them from anywhere else they are almost certainly out of date.
Ben.:tunes:

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cstorey
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Re: Comet flight dynamics

Post by cstorey »

If you are a real world pilot then you are one of the ones that used to drive us crackers as Instructors by trying to fly on the trimmers. Don't do it! It's not what it's there for ! Use the primary control and then trim out the control forces

Seriously though, earlier versions of flightsim were very unsatisfactory in that the elevator trim was far far too sensitive, and I think this may be the root of your problem. Also, bear in mind that the jets, even the early ones, are very slippery downhill, and it pays to reduce power significantly before ( and not after ) starting the descent

Chris

DGF042
Chipmunk
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Re: Comet flight dynamics

Post by DGF042 »

cstorey wrote:If you are a real world pilot then you are one of the ones that used to drive us crackers as Instructors by trying to fly on the trimmers. Don't do it! It's not what it's there for ! Use the primary control and then trim out the control forces
Ouch
:lol:

Well it's a compromise in flightsim. No, speed is not the problem. I think I do it as you suggest but if have to constantly push or pull the stick to maintain pitch I compensate with the trim. However it works fine or other aircraft especially with those here - they're a joy to fly. I move around the others around as well and never encountered such probs with the VC-10, Trident or One-Eleven. That's why I wondered what's about the Comet - she behaves very different.

I use FS 9.1 with XP SP2 and I just checked - I have the latest version of the Comet. (I downloaded it from here just two weeks ago, not from anywhere else)
I totally agree, elevator trim is a mess in FS8 and 9 - do I understand you right that it' better now in FSX?

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Nigel H-J
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Re: Comet flight dynamics

Post by Nigel H-J »

Hi DFG

I fly the Comet in FS9 but have not found this problem you have.

May I offer a suggestion although it may not be the answer to your problem, try setting the slider in Settings - Control Surface Commands to the far left, the trim will then only operate on single clicks therefore reducing the speed of the trim wheel.

I find that when flying the Dove I set the slider half way for elevator trim up and down as when, for instance, selecting flap down, the nose rises quite notably and therefore elevator trim down has to be wound on quite quickly to offset that, so I set the slider to the centre and keep my finger on the button until the right amount of trim has been set however, when flying the BAC 1-11 or Trident, I set the slider to the left so that it operates one click at a time as not much re-trimming is required on selecting flap or climb/descend.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Nigel.
I used to be an optimist but with age I am now a grumpy old pessimist.

DGF042
Chipmunk
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Re: Comet flight dynamics

Post by DGF042 »

probably you may want to kill me but after some more testing I decided to make some slight changes.
My next stop is Paro VQPR and I need good control over the aircraft for that.
Now I did some patterns and find it much easier to control the dove with this settings

//pitch_stability=0.631 // original
pitch_stability=0.931 // mli modified
// elevator_effectiveness=0.503 // original
elevator_effectiveness=0.803 // mli modified
//elevator_trim_effectiveness=0.300 // original
elevator_trim_effectiveness=0.250 // mli modified

As for the suggestion about the trim controls on my X52. I tried some changes but nothing worked really good for me.
There were two things that made it hard. On the one hand the sensitivity of the trim was too touchy and on the other hand the elevator showed to little effectiveness. So I had to push the stick all the way to the very edge to compensate and it's very unlikely for me to use the stick like a weapon instead with the fingertips.
As I said - maybe you don't find my changes appropriate but it is now working for me.

Thanks for support anyway
CHEERS

regards
Markus
Munich/Bavaria/Germany

bigred1970
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Re: Comet flight dynamics

Post by bigred1970 »

so I guess it is wrong to let the auto pilot do all the work for you. I am lazy......... :$

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